The Editor Zambia
Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance candidate Brian Mundubile’s hallucinations that UPND is the architecture of pangas are a slap in the face of Zambian people’s intelligence.
Mundubile addressed a media briefing in Serenje, claiming that the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) is the architect of political violence and machetes in the political sphere. 
Accusing the UPND of being an “architecture of pangas” is not only baseless but also shows the desperation of the man to win political power at all cost. Zambians are not buying any of lies. They have seen and witnessed the real agenda of the UPND.
In 2011, when the Patriotic Front (PF) ascended to power under President Michael Chilufya Sata, and subsequently Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the culture of “panga-wielding” by party cadres expanded drastically across markets, bus stations, and public rallies.
The panga culture in Zambian politics dates back to the days of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) in power. This was the time when Michael Sata was at the helm of the then ruling party as National Secretary.
A notorious gang of MMD cadres calling itself, the “Ku Klux Klan” had been terrorising the city and townships, disrupting meetings organised by the opposition.
Fast forward, after the PF won political power in 2011 under Micheal Sata and later Edgar Lungu, the culture of cadres hacking innocent citizens with pangas became rampant.
The PF cadres used any weaponry they could lay their hands on to harm people. They used firearms, catapults, etc, to attack or intimidate opponents. Their violent culture became the order of the day.
PF cadres invaded radio stations hosting opposition leaders and disrupted programmes if they were not happy with the presentations.
Worse still, as opposition leader then, President Hakainde Hichilema had to escape through the roof of a storied building when marauding cadres, armed with all sorts of weapons, stormed Sun FM in the Copperbelt where he was on live radio programme.
Simply put, political violence was taken to another level when the PF was in power! Overnight, it became abominable for members of the opposition, particularly UPND cadres, to be seen in their party regalia. They were either savagely attacked and left for dead or stripped naked, while their vehicles were overturned or burnt.
PF cadres were also notorious for taking over the running of the markets and bus stations by force, and anyone who dared stand in their way risked being severely punished- either ending up in intensive care unit or dispatched to an early grave.
An investigative journalist from the Post Newspapers who was on an assignment to carry out an exposé of the PF scheme to recruit underage voters from a neighbouring country was beaten to pulp. One of his attackers eventually ended up being elected as a member of parliament on the PF party ticket during the 2021 elections
From this background, it is clear that the ruling UPND is not attached to any violent history in its rank and file.
By accusing the UPND of being violent, Mundubile is implying that Zambians cannot see the truth that his own former party, the PF, has a history of perpetrating violence and intimidation.
The PF commanders’ brutal crackdowns, abductions, and electoral violence are acts that the Zambian people cannot easily forget.
Zambians won’t be fooled by Mundubile’s desperate attempts to shift blame.
Analysts say Brian Mundubile is living in a fantasy world if he thinks that the UPND is involved in any acts of violence. The ruling party is focused on development, not destruction.
The UPND’s agenda is clear. It is about building a better Zambia for all, not about using pangas or any form of violence against innocent citizens.
Instead of spreading false allegations, Mundubile should focus on what his party is doing to address the challenges facing Zambia.
The UPND is delivering.The UPND is about unity and development, while the opposition is yapping.
